Portrait of a protest

Since anti-government protests broke out in Ukraine last year, much of downtown Kiev has become a fortified camp with activists staked out behind barricades and sandbags.

The unrest, sparked by President Viktor Yanukovich’s decision to snub a deal with the European Union in favour of forging closer ties with Russia, has become a diverse anti-government movement. This series of portraits shows some of those who have taken to the streets.

11 Feb 2014. KIEV, Ukraine. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili

Yulia is a 34-year-old journalist from the town of Lviv in the west of Ukraine.

Many protesters hail from the same region, as the crisis has exposed a sharp divide within Ukraine between those mainly from the Russian-speaking east who favour warmer ties with former Soviet master Moscow and those in the west who want better relations with the EU.

Yulia says that she has been protesting for two months. "I'm here for people's rights, so that the government respects its citizens”, she said.

"My goal is the change of the ruling authorities, change to the whole system and not simply the resignation of the president and the government."

11 Feb 2014. KIEV, Ukraine. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili

Valentina is a 64-year-old pensioner from Kiev, who says she has been protesting for two months and is waiting for "a complete change of power".

Valentina sports a saucepan on her head - a gesture of defiance adopted by many of the demonstrators after anti-protest laws banned the wearing of face-masks or protective helmets.

Sweeping anti-protest legislation was repealed at the end of January in an attempt to defuse protests, but demonstrators have remained on the streets.

11 Feb 2014. KIEV, Ukraine. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili

Yuri is a 61-year-old engineer from the town of Nikolayevo who has been part of the demonstrations for three weeks.

"I want President Yanukovich to understand that the people cannot live like this any more, when his circle get richer and the people poorer. There should be fairness. The Ukrainian people deserve to live better than they do now," Yuri said to Reuters.

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Slideshow

2 Feb 2014. KIEV, Ukraine. Reuters/Thomas Peter

A soot-covered anti-government protester poses for a portrait at a barricade in Kiev.

28 Jan 2014. KIEV, Ukraine. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

A protester with an EU sticker on his helmet poses for a picture.

29 Jan 2014. KIEV, Ukraine. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili

A Cossack has his photograph taken at a demonstrators' camp during a rally in central Kiev’s Independence Square.

1 Feb 2014. KIEV, Ukraine. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

Oleg Maiko adjusts his freshly cut, cossack-style haircut at a makeshift hairdresser in a protester-occupied building.

1 Feb 2014. KIEV, Ukraine. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

A protester wearing a gas mask poses for a portrait at the barricades in Kiev.

4 Feb 2014. KIEV, Ukraine. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili

An anti-government protester sports a skeleton mask.

31 Jan 2014. KIEV, Ukraine. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

A protester stands on barricades at the site of clashes with riot police.

1 Feb 2014. KIEV, Ukraine. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko

Another protester, whose face is covered with soot, is seen at a barricade in Kiev.

31 Jan 2014. KIEV, Ukraine. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili

A protester poses for a picture at the site of clashes with riot police.